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Fact-checkers at Maldita.es found over 1,000 abuse videos on TikTok, with more than 48 million views.
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Researchers spotted over 20,000 profiles that may be linked to sharing or trading such material.
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Spain’s youth ministry sent the findings to prosecutors and says it may suspend TikTok’s services.
Spain is thinking about suspending TikTok. A new study found thousands of accounts that share, sell, and swap child sexual abuse material on the app. Reports say the government now wants answers.
Maldita.es, a Spanish fact-checking group, ran the study. Its team found more than 1,000 videos with explicit abuse material. Those videos gathered over 48 million views.
The researchers also spotted more than 20,000 profiles that may be tied to owning, spreading, or trading such content. These numbers raise serious doubts about how well TikTok protects children.
Spain sends the case to prosecutors
Spain’s Ministry of Youth and Children acted after the findings came out. The ministry sent the case to the State Attorney General’s Office. It also asked that office to open an investigation. According to reports, the government wants prosecutors to look into the suspected abuse cases.
The ministry also asked for an urgent meeting with TikTok’s representatives in Spain. It wants the company to explain how it handles such content. According to the ministry, authorities may suspend TikTok’s services if that is needed to protect children and teenagers. Another report says the government is weighing a halt to the platform’s services in Spain.
For now, Spain has not confirmed a nationwide ban. The case stays with the proper authorities.
Maldita.es finds thousands of suspicious accounts
The group worked on its original investigation for 35 days. The work ran from September 11 to October 15, 2026. Researchers checked user profiles, comments, livestreams, and TikTok’s recommendation system. They wanted to see how accounts linked to child exploitation operate.
The team found 7,725 Spanish-language accounts tied to owning, sharing, or swapping abuse material. Some accounts advertised the material for sale. Other users pointed interested people toward outside messaging apps.
Online platform abuse isn’t limited to social media; Google recently shut down a massive proxy network that exploited millions of Android phones without users’ knowledge.
Maldita.es then ran a separate test. It reported 50 videos with explicit abuse material to TikTok. Those videos had about 8.8 million views and more than 148,000 likes. The group’s second report shows how the platform responded.
TikTok removed only five of the reported videos, which is 10 per cent of the sample. It blocked another 13 videos in Spain. Meanwhile, 38 per cent of the accounts behind the reported videos stayed active 72 hours after the complaints. These results raise questions about whether TikTok reacts fast enough to reports of child exploitation.
TikTok defended its approach. A Spanish news agency reports that the company told it such material is strictly banned. The company also said it uses advanced tools to find and remove it. TikTok asked Maldita.es to share its full findings. It argued that the evidence would help it locate and remove the reported material.
Users on X argue over Spain’s possible move
News of a possible suspension drew mixed reactions on X. Users debated whether shutting down TikTok would solve the problem. Some feared it would spark a new fight over government control of social media. These posts are personal opinions, and they do not show the government’s real motives.
Danny Ængland (@DannyAengland) said the issue could reach beyond TikTok. He suggested that child safety worries might become an excuse for more online surveillance and mandatory identity checks. He also raised concerns about artificial intelligence being used to monitor content in the future.
Jose Valero (@noesviernes), who said he is Spanish, questioned the government’s intentions. He said authorities should prosecute the people who spread illegal material. In his view, they should not suspend a whole platform. He also suggested that political disagreements with content on TikTok might shape the government’s stance.
Other users held different views. Jeff H (@politicswarblog) said TikTok’s short video format is harmful in itself. Shagrath (@Shagarchist) suggested the sudden push to ban the app might have motives beyond child safety. Siwan Hwangmok (@Rasler_Elos) also doubted that child safety is the government’s true priority. That user suggested the study could become an excuse for wider limits on social media.
Not everyone opposed action against the platform. T. Supkit (@tmo_melonmaster) welcomed any step that could hurt TikTok. BradL (@BPlexflix76730) suggested mental health checks before people can open accounts. The investigation remains with the relevant authorities. Questions about TikTok’s moderation and the government’s planned response continue to draw attention.
